Travel

Sometimes, it’s nice to get out there an see other beautiful places- so when I had the opportunity to join my aunt for an outing to New Mexico for a quick there and back, I couldn’t say no.

We spend time in Albuquerque and Sante Fe and wished we had more time to explore more of the wilds in the area. Nevertheless, we spent as much time enjoying the New Mexican lifestyle as possible.

We visited the Petroglyph National Monument before heading up to Sante Fe. It was a beautiful early winter weekend with plenty of sunshine. These PNW girls were in desperate need of some Vitamin D, albeit a crisp day.

The food was great, art game was strong, and I had to resist every urge to buy turquoise and leather everything. Next time, it is out to venture in the mountains and hot springs.

If you are wanting to see lush, green moss and some of the tallest trees in the west, GO. If you are from the Northwest and haven’t made it to the Olympic Peninsula, GO! If this is your backyard like it is mine, WE ARE SO LUCKY.

The Staircase Loop Trail is a little over 2 miles, which easily turns into 5 miles for us with all of our wanderings. It is fairly easy and there were many families out enjoying the cold, crisp day.

We took to the trail with cameras and tripods in hand. One of the things I love about adventuring with Mary, is the no rush vibe we get when we see a spot that HAS to be photographed. These outings are a perfect opportunity to hone our skills with no pressure and the ability to really set up a shot.

I’ve gotten in this new habit of taking an afternoon off from the 9-5 to go adventure off in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. With so many destinations within a few hours’ drive, it seems wasteful not to. It transforms a day from a morning of meetings to an afternoon of outdoor bliss. This time, I took to the mountain with my favorite adventure and photography friend Mary Jo. We decided on a simple hike to the Fremont Fire Lookout. What was supposed to be a casual 5 mile hike, proved to be more difficult for us than expected. Lots of breaks for “photos” and conversation made the trip much easier. Once we reached our destination, we celebrated with a libation and a lot of photo taking. Back down was much easier, with many stops to take in the gorgeous Mountain Sunset and wildlife. It may have been dark when we got back to the car, but we both agreed it was worth the adventure.

I write this as many dear friends are on their millionth hour of deep snow, wretched freezing temperatures, and cabin fever. The PNW has been rocking this winter- mild, warm and SO MUCH SUNSHINE. Now, I wanted this post to serve as a reminder of the good that has been the east coast- and it will return.

Winter Boston meet Summer Boston. I know it has been a while since you’ve had clear streets, sunshine, and easy access to your city.

I’ve been holding these photos of The Natural Ginger and her Mr. for a few months. They needed some real attention, so they waited until all of my family photo sessions to be worked on. They got married in August at the family farm and had some gorgeous photos taken by my favorite photography duo- Memory Montage Photography, but wanted just a little bit of Boston time their wedding clothes. While out in Boston last September with the handsome, we took to the streets in full wedding attire, including an impromptu bouquet constructed in line at Trader Joe’s. We made our way through the city from the Boston Public Library, Fenway Park, and the Northeastern Campus where they first met. The night closed with a dive bar filled with friends. Couldn’t ask for a better memory of sweet summer.

I had a birthday this week. A pretty significant one in fact. Another year passing is another year of adventures and memories. A group of my favorite people (including a surprise appearance of the natural ginger) joined in the celebration and we spent some time downtown. A night of food, drinks, laughter and salsa music made it a birthday well spent. With everyone coming in from everywhere, we seemed to find ourselves at Pike Place Market more than a few times. Is it the food? Or the atmosphere? My Secret answer? Mini Donuts from The Daily Dozen

It is my favorite time of year; September. Where summer and fall collide in a crisp morning, warm afternoon kind of way. The cool evenings allow for more adventuring, and there is just enough light to enjoy an adventure before it gets dark. I spent some time up in Okanogan County this week. I’ve fallen in love with this gorgeous place and have been plotting how to uproot my current life and plop it on down somewhere up there. Here are a few beautiful things found.

Things have been busy- in all the right ways. I had the opportunity to travel for work this week to sunny San Diego.

When I wasn’t busy meeting some of the most amazing colleagues in my field, I was given a few spare hours to enjoy the city. As a regular tourist, I hopped the local bus to Old Town for dinner and onto Balboa Park for the evening. The park was fun and inviting with warm lighting and much to do- I spent my time taking it all in. Mission Beach was gorgeous with the perfect sea breeze and the California sun.